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The beginning of North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology was with a 1979 proposal by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to establish a science and technology institute. A report prepared by a team of professors from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1981–82, was submitted to the North Eastern Council (NEC) which approved it, paving the way to the registering of the society for the institute on 11 January 1983. NEC set up a working group headed by Amitabha Bhattacharya of Jadavpur University, which submitted a project report and a work plan on October 1983. The report was approved by the Ministry of Education in December that year,[4] though final approval from the Ministry of Education was on a letter dated 12 September 1985.

The foundation stone of the institute was set on 4 March 1984 by the President of India, Giani Zail Singh.[5] The institute started operating in 1986 with six base modules. Six diploma modules started in 1988 and by 1990 seven degree modules were added. The institute was funded by NEC until, on April 1994, it came directly under the full funding and control of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). In May 2005 it was granted deemed university status.[5] NERIST gained approval for the postgraduate programme from AICTE and MHRD in 1996, and the latter was implemented by 2006.

The national highway NH52 divides the NERIST campus into two. The institute is fully residential, and is spread over 500 acres of land. There are eight hostel blocks with a capacity of 1500 boarders; six of these house male undergraduate students, one postgraduate male students and research scholars and the other female students. The campus has faculty and staff quarters, guest houses, temple, church, namghar and a bank.

Each discipline has its own head of department, generally the most senior of the professors. The dean(s) for Student Affairs, Academic, Planning & Development and the Registrar oversee all other major activities.

The HMC is the house of management of all the hostels headed by the HMC chairperson. In addition to this, the administration is also run by the incharge/chairperson of Training and Placement (T&P) Cell, Education Technology (ET) Cell, Sports, Security, NCC/NSS unit, NERIST Entrance Examinations (NEE), Transport and Telecom.

The academic programme in Engineering and Technology is three modules, each of two years duration. These three modules — called Certificate, Diploma, and Degree — comprise the undergraduate studies. Each module has an entry point through an entrance examination conducted by NERIST. The first entry is after class X.[11]

Each module provides terminality corresponding to an occupational level and, at the same time, allows entry to the next higher module, leading to a degree in engineering and technology in about six years after class X. In the Applied Science stream, a two-year Base module and four year Degree module are offered. The system allows lateral entry from outside, at the beginning of each module.[11]

The Certificate and the Diploma levels emphasize the practical aspects of engineering, which help an individual become an entrepreneur or to face the day–to–day problems of industry. The Degree curriculum provides instruction not only in engineering but emphasizes management and entrepreneurship aspects as well.

NERIST conducts the NERIST Entrance Exam (NEE) to select students for admission to Certificate, Diploma and Degree programmes. Three examinations, known as NEE-I, NEE-II and NEE-III, are held to take admissions at three levels. The NEE-I, for which eligibiity is a pass in Class X, is held towards the end of April every year for admissions to the Base Module. NEE-II is for the lateral entry to the Diploma Module of Engineering and to the Degree Module of Applied Science stream and NEE-III is for the lateral entry to the Degree Module of Engineering. The notifications for NEE-I, II and III are published in most regional and national newspapers. NEEs are conducted in centers in the North Eastern States of India.[11][12]

Of the seats in each of the modules for direct admission, 80% of seats are reserved for the candidates of the eight states of the North East India (10% each) as states' quota. 7% of seats are filled up from the students of North East on merit. 10% of the seats are filled up by the candidates from rest of the States under the All India (AI) quota. 3% of the seats are reserved for physically handicapped candidates with 40-75% locomotor disability.[11]

Admission to the postgraduate programmes in technology is based on the performance of candidates in all India-level entrance examination GATE conducted by the IITs on behalf of the MHRD, Government of India. Separate entrance tests are conducted for admission to other post graduate programmes.

A student or an alumnus of NERIST is known as a NERISTian. A recreational programme associated with the culture of the college takes place around October called Sonabyss[13] including inter collegiate performances and lasting four days. Synergy is the annual athletic meet held in January or February when track and field athletic events are held. Football and cricket are the two most popular sports among the NERISTians.

The annual techno-management festival, called Shristi, is held in March or April.[14] Technical institutes from all over North Eastern India take part in this three-day fest. Shristi started as the technical-festival of NERIST in 2005 which has become the techno-management festival after the commencement of Management Studies at the institute. Shristi hosts events to build the interest of the audience in higher studies, including events for school children.[15][16]